Changed Lives

Music was Joseph’s passion, but it also led him down a dark path. As a musician, he spent years performing in environments where alcohol was always close at hand. What began as a few drinks to break the ice slowly became something he depended on. “The more I grew dependent on it, the worse it got,” Joseph says.

Over time, drinking drained his energy, affecting his performance at work. Eventually, Joseph lost his job and his apartment. He knew something had to change. “If I kept going the way I was, I wasn’t going to live much longer.”

Desperate for help, Joseph came to Crossroads to start over. “It was like the light turned on in a room,” he remembers. “Everything was illuminated, and I started working on myself.”

He committed fully to change – cutting ties with unhealthy influences and focusing on healing. Assigned chores gave him structure, and working in the kitchen gave him purpose. “I focused all my attention on the task at hand,” Joseph says.

Now, Joseph has regained clarity and motivation. “Since coming here, I’m focused, and I know what I have to do to get where I want to be,” he says.

“Crossroads helped me maintain my sobriety and grow into a more caring and compassionate person.”

Today, Joseph works at Crossroads as the kitchen manager, ensuring meals are prepared with care and dignity. He sees his work as more than a job – it’s a calling. “There’s a lot of gratification from helping somebody,” he says.

His faith in God has grown, too, inspiring him to serve others with Christ-like compassion. “I want to share the grace that was given to me.”

Because of you, neighbors like Joseph know that they are loved and worthy of a new beginning. Thank you for opening the door to hope and healing this summer! “I’m thankful to Crossroads for the opportunities they’ve given me. They’ve helped me in so many ways.”

Last summer, Dawn faced a crisis she never expected. In the middle of a divorce and custody situation, she and her son, Ryley, were wrongfully evicted from their apartment. “My biggest challenge before coming to the Mission was finding housing,” she says.

Dawn is grateful for the safety net of Crossroads. “I was glad we had a place to stay instead of our car or the streets,” she says. They stayed in the shelter for several months before moving into one of Crossroads’ apartments. Through classes on budgeting and saving, Dawn has gained tools to plan for the future. She found a part-time job that fits her son’s school schedule and began saving money. “Since coming to the Mission, I’m more financially stable,” she says.

Today, Dawn feels hopeful and grateful. “Crossroad provided a safe and welcoming place for me and Ryley,” she says. “They gave us a roof over our heads, food, and the chance to move forward.”

When Joel looks back, he admits drinking was already a problem in high school. But everything spiraled when his dad took his own life two months after he had told Joel that he was going to. “That really sent me downhill,” Joel says. “I felt responsible. I thought I could’ve saved his life if I had told somebody.”

Joel was 27 at the time, and from then on, he says he was on a “rollercoaster of alcoholism.” He would manage to get sober, land a good job, only to fall back into drinking and watch it all come crashing down. He pushed away his family and completely isolated himself. “Alcohol just rips your body up, your spirituality, confidence – everything,” he says. “I wasn’t really caring about anything.”

Joel finally reached his breaking point. Tired of the endless cycle, he came to Crossroads Mission Avenue, determined to begin his journey toward lasting recovery.

Today, Joel is enjoying healing and clarity. “I’m on the right path and I’m not getting off it again,” he says. He’s also receiving support for his mental health struggles. “The Mission helps balance me out. I feel good about myself.”

“Since coming to Crossroads, I have hope, faith, peace and a better relationship with God.”

Joel is grateful for the support he’s found at Crossroads, and the friendships he has made with staff. “If I need anything, they do what they can to help.”

Through Crossroads, Joel also has a new opportunity. He’s working at the Mission’s worm farm, which is preparing him for a full-time management position. “The worm farm is giving me a future and a career,” he says. “I’m excited for my growth.”

This Easter, Joel has a new direction for his life. Thank you for lighting the path forward for him to experience a future of hope and peace! “I thank God and Crossroads for helping me out. My confidence is built up and I have a better relationship with God and my family.”

After a painful divorce, Carman had to rebuild her life from the ground up. Then her world was shattered once again when her identity was stolen. “I lost everything. I was homeless and had no place to go,” she recalls. A friend whose son once found help at Crossroads brought Carman to the Mission. “I decided to make the best of my situation,” she says. “I’ve been striving to move forward ever since.”

At Crossroads, Carman has found more than shelter … she’s found purpose, deepening faith and new friendships. “I like that they put effort into each individual,” she says. Today, Carman gives back – helping wherever needed at the Mission, listening to others, and sharing lessons from her life. “I’ve grown quite a bit, and I’m stronger. Crossroads helped me see that I am not a hopeless cause; I have something to offer. I’m thankful to Crossroads because they opened their doors to me. They shared God’s grace with me.”

Adrian is the pastor of Kearney eFree Church and a volunteer at Crossroads Mission Avenue. “I love this kind of ministry,” he says. “One of the things I like about having relationships with folks who are homeless is they take off the masks we wear all the time. You get to know them pretty quickly.”

After moving to Kearney a decade ago, Adrian realized there weren’t any churches that were inviting people at Crossroads to be part of their community. “There are a lot of folks at homeless shelters who are looking for spiritual answers for really big problems,” he shares. “They are looking for community.”

When he became the pastor of Kearney eFree Church, Adrian encouraged his congregation to support neighbors in need. He led a campaign to raise funds for a van to transport Crossroads guests to and from the church each week.

“What I’ve enjoyed most is the relationships with Crossroads guests.”

Now, Adrian and his wife come to Crossroads to lead prayer time and Bible study and further develop fellowship with people who seek it.

“Crossroads provides protection and safety as people aim for higher goals and grow emotionally, physically, spiritually and vocationally,” Adrian says. “They do a great job working with local businesses to provide job opportunities that help guests move forward.”

He also recognizes the heart of our staff. “Crossroads employees really love and care about the guests. They understand that every person that comes in is made in the image of God.”

Adrian has seen the changes in people, from short-term to long-term guests. “They are not just self-sufficient; they have the tools to deal with temptations for when they go back out into the community,” he says. “They leave this place with more confidence, connection with the community and knowledge of the resources available.”

This Christmas, Adrian is experiencing the joy of ministering to Crossroads guests. Thanks to you, the gifts of peace and hope are shared with those who need it! “Guests say, ‘I’m grateful for this place because I can tell I am valued here. I matter.’”

Nyah and her siblings grew up without a mom. Their dad spent a lot of time on the road for work. “We were raised by my grandma,” she shares. When Nyah had children of her own, sadly, their father was also absent form their lives. Her grandma felt that it was best for Nyah and her children’s future to leave their small town for better opportunities.

On her own for the first time, Nyah came to Crossroads Mission Avenue with her kids for stability and guidance to live independently. “Before coming to the Mission, I was lost. They provide structure, resources, and support, which I didn’t have at home,” she says.

Being at the Mission has given Nyah confidence in herself. She is learning to be financially self-sufficient, so she can provide a better life for her kids. “At first, I was scared of being by myself. Now I feel like I can do things on my own,” she says. “Crossroads is helpful and supportive to those who need it, like families.” Of her time at the Mission, Nyah reflects, “I’m thankful to the Mission because they gave me a chance to live with purpose.”

Once the high school homecoming queen and cheer captain, Ashley never thought she’d hit rock bottom. She was raised by her mom and grandmother and had a happy childhood.

But her happy world came crumbling down as an adult. An unhealthy marriage left her heartbroken… she turned to alcohol to cope with the pain and developed a destructive addiction.

After her divorce, she replaced alcohol with other substances. This led to bad choices that got her arrested and she lost custody of her kids.

But while in prison, her relationship with God grew stronger. When she was released, Ashley came to Crossroads because she knew the faith-based program could provide the structure she needed to continue deepening her faith.

Now, she has found healing through devotions and being around positive people who share her faith. “I prayed a lot when I was in prison, and I really feel like I was supposed to come here,” she says.

She is grateful to Crossroads for providing basic necessities and resources to help her budget and save money. She also appreciates the emotional support from staff. Before coming to the Mission, she was very unsure about her future. “The Mission staff really invest their time getting to know you and give their advice.”

Ashley once limited herself when looking to the future, but thanks to encouragement from staff, she is learning to aim higher and pursue associate and bachelor’s degrees. “They tell me, ‘Don’t sell yourself short. You have more to offer.’” She also plans to get her driver’s license again and get a car so she can visit and rebuild her relationship with her kids.

Your gifts are bearing fruit in the lives of people like Ashley. Now, her heart is full of hope this fall… thanks to your kindness! “After coming to the Mission, I know God’s in control and everything’s going to be OK.”

Although Robert’s parents divorced when he was three years old, he had a good upbringing. He doesn’t blame anyone but himself for his alcoholism, which started as recreational drinking.

He tried to get help at different shelters, but something was always missing. He needed a faith-based foundation for lasting recovery. Robert came to Crossroads and knew it was different. Through our staff’s care and compassion, he experienced Christ’s love. “Crossroads is the first place I’ve been to where they love the Lord,” he says.  “They’re family, and every time you fall off the wagon, they’ll hug you like you never left.” He is grateful for the Mission’s unconditional support to help him heal. “Now, I’ve given myself to the Lord. I’m getting my life and family back … and my own place for the first time.”

“I never really had a mom who was there for me,” Jessica reflects. She experienced a lot of trauma growing up with a single mom who had three jobs. “I sometimes wondered if she worked so much because she didn’t want to be home.” 

At one point, she became a ward of the state. This combined with the mental health struggles of her family took a toll on Jessica as a child.

“My teenage years were not any better. I had no help growing up, and was taken advantage of my whole life, even by my family,” she shares. At 17, she turned to substances to cope with that feeling of neglect, admitting, “Bad attention is better than no attention.”

At her lowest point, Jessica’s choices landed her in prison… and she lost custody of her children. After she was released, Jessica felt determined to change her life around and she came to the Mission where she was warmly welcomed. “I was very happy,” she recalls.

She is grateful to the Mission for giving her stable housing so she can get her kids back. “This is the best thing that has ever happened to me,” she says.

“Since coming to the Mission, I am very hopeful for housing, getting my girls back and starting a new life.”

Crossroads has provided Jessica with the support she never had. “I’ve always had to do everything by myself. The support system here is phenomenal. Any resources I need, day-to-day interactions, are great,” she says. “It’s more than I could ask for.”

Beyond the services to help her get back on track, Jessica is grateful to have people she can talk to and count on. “Crossroads is like a family. It’s a whole different experience being here. It’s great and I’m very thankful for it.”

Thank you for your love and support of neighbors like Jessica. Your kindness has reminded her that she is not alone and that a better life is possible! “I’m thankful to the Mission for showing me that there are good people out there, showing me my self-worth, helping me with housing and for being there for me.”